Coated chloride salt particles and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

Described herein are coated chloride salt particles, including NaCl/TiO 2 and NaCl/SiO 2 core/shell particles, along with methods of making and using the same.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A particle comprising a core and a shell, wherein the core comprises sodium chloride and/or potassium chloride and the shell consists essentially of titanium dioxide and/or silicon dioxide, and the shell covers the core and has a thickness between about 5 nm and about 50 nm. 
     
     
       2. The particle of  claim 1 , wherein the core is hygroscopic and the shell is hydrophilic. 
     
     
       3. The particle of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is present in amount of about 0.5% to about 20% by weight of the particle. 
     
     
       4. The particle of  claim 1 , wherein the particle has a water vapor adsorption capacity that is greater than the water vapor adsorption capacity of an uncoated chloride salt particle a pure chloride salt particle and/or a particle consisting of a chloride salt of the same or substantially the same size. 
     
     
       5. The particle of  claim 1 , wherein the particle has a water adsorption capacity of at least about 1 cm 3 /g to about 100 cm 3 /g. 
     
     
       6. The particle of  claim 1 , wherein the particle adsorbs water when in an environment having a relative water vapor pressure in a range of about 0.1 P/P 0  or greater. 
     
     
       7. The particle of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises amorphous titanium dioxide and/or crystalline titanium dioxide. 
     
     
       8. The particle of  claim 1 , wherein the particle has a hygroscopic point that is decreased compared to an uncoated chloride salt particle, a pure chloride salt particle and/or a particle consisting of a chloride salt. 
     
     
       9. A coated particle configured for water adsorption, the coated particle comprising:
 a core formed of at least one of sodium chloride and potassium chloride; and 
 a coating covering the core to form the coated particle, the coating consisting essentially of at least one of titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide and having a thickness between about 5 nm and about 50 nm. 
 
     
     
       10. The coated particle of  claim 9 , wherein the thickness is about 20 nm. 
     
     
       11. The coated particle of  claim 9 , wherein the coating is a hydrophilic surface. 
     
     
       12. The coated particle of  claim 9 , wherein the coating is between about 1.5% and about 5% by weight of the particle. 
     
     
       13. The coated particle of  claim 9 , wherein the core is formed of sodium chloride and the coating is formed of titanium dioxide. 
     
     
       14. The coated particle of  claim 9 , wherein a water adsorption capacity of the coated particle is at least about 0.37 cm 3 /g. 
     
     
       15. The coated particle of  claim 14 , wherein the water adsorption capacity is between about 1 cm 3 /g and about 100 cm 3 /g. 
     
     
       16. The coated particle of  claim 9 , wherein the coating includes at least one of crystalline silicon dioxide and crystalline titanium dioxide. 
     
     
       17. A coated particle configured for water adsorption, the coated particle comprising:
 a core comprising at least of sodium chloride and potassium chloride; and 
 a coating covering the core and comprising at least one of titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide, wherein a thickness of the coating is between about 5 nm and about 50 nm. 
 
     
     
       18. The coated particle of  claim 17 , wherein the thickness is about 20 nm. 
     
     
       19. The coated particle of  claim 17 , wherein the coating is present in amount of about 0.5% to about 20% by weight of the particle. 
     
     
       20. The coated particle of  claim 19 , wherein the amount is between about 1.5% and about 5% by weight of the particle.